Have Aston Villa played in UEFA Champions League before? History in Europe, past record for Unai Emery's team

Aston Villa are closing in on securing a top-four finish in the Premier League, and the hugely lucrative bonus of a spot in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Unai Emery's side have taken huge strides since the Spaniard's arrival in October 2022. The former Arsenal boss took over a team who were languishing two places above the relegation zone under Steven Gerrard, but he has masterminded a transition that now sees them preparing to battle with the elite of European football once again.

The Sporting News takes a look at their history in Europe and what it would mean for Villa to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Explaining the new Champions League format?

Since the competition was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992, Aston Villa have never played in Europe's elite club competition. They have, however, competed in the old European Cup, which they famously won in 1982. 

Villa secured the ultimate club prize in Rotterdam in May that year, when they beat Bayern Munich in the final.

They had navigated past Valur (Iceland), Dynamo Berlin (East Germany), Dynamo Kiev (USSR) and Anderlecht (Belgium) to make the showpiece — but their chances took a turn for the worse when goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer was forced off early in the final due to an injury.

He was replaced by Nigel Spink, a relatively inexperienced youngster with only one previous first-team appearance under his belt. However, Spink's second outing for Villa turned into a spectacle as he made a string of heroic saves to etch his name into Aston Villa club folklore.

In the 67th minute, winger Tony Morley beat his man to deliver a pinpoint cross from the left flank and he found Peter Withe, who arrived unmarked at the far post and shinned the ball into the back